Melania Trump says Donald wanted more children, but she chose to raise just one

President Trump may have five children, but Melania reveals he was ready for more. In a candid interview, the First Lady explained why she decided one child was enough and described her hands-on approach to raising their son, Barron.

When Melania married Donald Trump in 2005, he already had four children from previous marriages. Their son, Barron, was born a year later. While President Trump was open to having more children, Melania felt their demanding lives made raising one child the right choice.

“I was always perfectly fine with one,” she told Fox & Friends in a 2023 interview. “Donald was encouraging us to have more. And I said, ‘I’m completely fine with one because it’s a very busy life.’”

Despite their high-profile status, Melania took a traditional, hands-on role in raising Barron—opting not to hire a full-time nanny.

A mother-first approach in a very public family

Though Barron was raised in a world of wealth and attention, Melania made it a priority to protect his privacy and keep his upbringing grounded. “I’m with him all the time,” she said in a 2015 interview with People. “As you know, my husband is traveling all the time.”

She believed in minimal help around the house, explaining, “If you have too much help, you don’t get to know your children.”

Barron, now 19, was raised to be independent and imaginative. Melania encouraged his creativity—allowing him to draw on the walls, explore interests in planes, and even pretend to run a bakery.

Raising Barron with independence and structure

Melania handled everything from schoolwork to after-school activities. Barron enjoyed subjects like science and math and spent time with his father golfing.

“He wants to be a golfer, a businessman, a pilot,” Melania said. “It’s that age when you introduce him to stuff.”

She also taught Barron Slovenian, her native language, and kept him connected to his heritage by encouraging calls with his grandparents in Slovenia. Video clips from his early years even show him speaking with a Slovenian accent.

Barron graduated from Oxbridge Academy in 2024 and is now attending NYU’s Stern Business School. But unlike many students, he isn’t living in a dorm.

Sources told People that Melania believes staying at home is best for him, especially given the pressures of public life. “Living in a dorm in a college town isn’t in the stars for him at this point,” one source said.

“He’s his own person,” Melania shared. “It was his decision to come here… to study in New York and live in his home, and I respect that.”

Even as First Lady, Melania has remained closely involved in her son’s day-to-day life. “I think it’s very important that we show our children that we are working too,” she told Fox. “That they see us being productive, with ideas coming to life.”

Although President Trump envisioned a bigger family, Melania has found purpose in raising one child with intention and consistency. “He’s an incredible young man,” she said. “His strength, his intelligence, his knowledge, his kindness—it’s admirable.”